CAB must continue
I’m pleased to see that Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau has been thrown a lifeline.
The CAB provides a crucial and vital service for the people and families of Paisley and Renfrewshire.
What gives me even more cause for concern, and not just the survival of the CAB, but the survival of local services is the fact that the SNP administration in Renfrewshire are making decisions without knowing the full facts and situation, as evidenced by council leader Ian Nicolson’s admission that: “Once the situation regarding Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau was made known to us, the administration immediately put the matter to the Leadership Board and agreed additional funding.”
I believe that towards the end of 2017, the SNP administration planned to cut the Families First Service – however, that was stopped after a public outcry. No doubt enabling the SNP administration to catch up with the situation.
They planned to introduce parking charges in Johnstone and Renfrew – however, that was stopped. This time after a public outcry and a consultation.
And this week it was announced that the SNP administration are cutting the funding to Children First which will result in the closure of Hillview Nursery with a devastating effect on the children and families, as well as the staff and their families. I wonder if they need to be made aware of that situation?
This administration is failing the people of Renfrewshire. We need and are entitled to an administration that is aware of the situation – regardless of what the situation maybe – before decisions are made.
Tony Lawler via email
Let’sgetmoving
One thing that unites all political parties in Renfrewshire is the unfair monopoly of bus provision in our communities.
We now have a real opportunity to seriously address this issue with the Scottish Parliament’s forthcoming transport bill.
If the political will exists, ALL our local MSPs should join campaigners such as Get Glasgow Moving in calling for the bill to be strengthened to allow for elected and accountable councils to run their own bus networks, claiming private operators have monopolised current services resulting in many of our constituents with limited, and in some places, no bus routes.
The current transport bill was introduced by Margaret Thatcher in 1985 promising deregulation would free up the market , giving commuters more choice in services and prices.
This has clearly failed and our elected Scottish parliamentarians now have the once-in-a-generation opportunity to put into practice what many of them have been saying in their press releases.
Please do right by your constituents and include in the transport bill bus services run by elected accountable local authorities for the many not the few. Councillor Jim Sheridan Houston, Crosslee and Linwood
The SNP administration in Renfrewshire are making decisions without knowing the full facts